West Virginia Code 61-10-23 – Debt pooling; definition; offenses; penalty; jurisdiction; pleading and proof
“Debt pooling” shall mean the rendering in any manner of advice or services of any and every kind in the establishment or operation of a plan pursuant to which a debtor would deposit or does deposit funds for the purpose of distributing such funds among his creditors. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit in any manner a debt pooling. It shall further be unlawful for any person, except licensed attorneys, to make any charge for a debt pooling by way of fee, reimbursement of costs, or otherwise, in excess of an amount equal to two percent of the total amount of money actually deposited pursuant to a debt pooling: Provided, That any nonprofit firm, corporation or voluntary association may make an additional charge not exceeding five percent of the total amount of money actually deposited pursuant to a debt pooling, to defray costs of counseling services furnished for the benefit of its clientele of debtors generally with respect to personal money management. Any person, whether acting as agent or otherwise, who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250 or confined in jail not less than thirty nor more than sixty days or both. Justices of the peace and other competent courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction of offenses under this section. It shall not be necessary in any warrant issued or indictment returned under this section to allege exceptions or provisos contained in this section but in the trial of an offense subject thereto it shall be the duty of the state to negative such exceptions and provisos.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 61-10-23
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.